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Graphs are essential part of our everyday life. They provide valuable
information and without graphs we would be lost in a lot of confusing data.
Graphs are used in almost every subject and drawing and interpreting graphs
pose some difficulties for most students.
There are important decisions that can be made every day depending on what
a graph can tell us and what happened around us in the world can be
summarised between two axes.
Zani Alam
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Graphs
Graphing is a special recording skill. Using graphs is a way of showing a picture or drawing of
some information. Graphs make the information easier to understand and use. They help us
as well understand and interpret our observations and make comparison by visually
displaying data.
There are many types of graphs. Each type is best used to show different forms of
information. Before we can graph a given set of data we should first decide which type of
graph is appropriate for summarising that data.
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Origin of the words graph and data
Graphs Data
Related words
Chart From the Greek
word_____________
Something drawn
Graphical record
Graph
orDiagram
written
The word graph reminds me of: There many
types of graphs
Telegraph
Phonograph
Mammography
Photograph
Graphical
Pie graph
Line graph
From the Latin word
Sector graph Datum means to give
DATA
Information
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Interpreting graphs
In order to interpret a graph there are a number of important parts that you must be able to
identify and read. Most graphs will have a:
a- Title: this gives you a short explanation of what the graph is about.
b- Horizontal axis: this is a line running across the graph. It has a label beneath
it. It may have a scale.
c- Vertical axis: this is a line running up the side of a graph. It has a label next to
it. It may have a scale.
d- The scales: the scales on horizontal or vertical axes are similar to the scales
found on many measuring instruments. A scale is a series of numbers that are
increasing or decreasing by the same amount. Part of the skill of interpreting
a graph is reading the scales on the axes. Each scale will be labelled with the
unit of measurement that has been used.
In addition some graphs will have a:
e- Source: this tells you where the information has come from.
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Line graphs
Line graphs usually show a connected series of data. Unlike column graphs, they allow us to
estimate data between the points that are plotted.
Line graphs are used when two quantities have been measured. These quantities are called
variables. A line graph is used to show the relationship between two variables. A variable is
something that is continually changing. Often one of the variables is time. A line graph has
two lines or axes. One is the horizontal axis which goes from side to side. The other is the
vertical axis which goes up and down. The independent variable usually goes on the
horizontal axis, called x-axis. The dependent variable goes on the vertical axis or y-axis.
Line graphs are used to show continuous data, that is, data in which the values follow on
from each other.
A line graph is often used to represent a set of data values in which a quantity varies with
time. These graphs are useful for finding trends. That is finding a general pattern in data sets
including temperature, sales, employment, company profit or cost over a period of time.
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Things you should follow before drawing a line graph
Determine a Scale
Determining the scale and labelling the axes with numbers present difficulty for many
students.
The scales should start with 0 and climb based on intervals such as: multiples of 2, 5, 10, 20,
25, 50, or 100.
Start with the horizontal scale. If you are using graph paper, let 1 unit on the graph paper
equal 1 unit of the values you are graphing. Determine whether the greatest value will fit on
the graph. If it doesn't, then change the scale and try again. Now repeat this process for the
vertical scale.
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How to construct a line graph
1- Draw the axes
Y to the sky
2- Identify the axes: the horizontal axis goes from side to side. The vertical axis goes
up and down. (Remember Y to the sky).
Dependent
variable
Independent variable
variable the axes: after deciding on the variable for each axis, label the axes
4- Labelling
with the variable and the units in which the variables are measured. The units are
written after the name of the variable and should be written between brackets:
(cm).
5- Setting up the scale: decide on an appropriate scale for each axis. The scale
refers to the minimum and maximum numbers used on each scale. Each axis
should be marked off with units that cover the entire range of the measurement.
The minimum and maximum numbers used for the scale should be a little lower
than the lowest value and a little higher than the highest value.
The distance between top and bottom values is broken up into equal divisions.
Each axis has its own range of values and uniform scale.
6- Putting in the values: a point is made for each pair of values by drawing an
imaginary line from each axis and then drawing a dot at the intersection point
(the meeting point).
7- Drawing the line: plot the points with a small dot or x then draw a line through
the points.
8- Title: the title should be selected to clearly but briefly tell what the graph is
about. Your graph title should start with: Graph of ……………….
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Sample line graph
Title
Unit
Dependent
variable
Horizontal axis
Origin Unit
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Graphs in science
Worksheet 1
When there is a gradual change between points plotted, it is best to draw a line graph. For
example, if you measured the height of a person once a year, we know that the growth
happened gradually during the year rather than just the night before measurement. In this
case we need to draw a line graph. There are many other times where line graphs are the
correct choice.
Experiment
Louisa and Alex heated some water in a beaker and measured the temperature every two
minutes. Here are their results:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5- Use the following link to draw your graph online and compare it with the graph
you already drew on the grid paper.
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx
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Graphs in maths and science
Worksheet 2
The data below relate to the speed of a car to its stopping distance.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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Graphs in science
Worksheet 3
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Graphs in science
Worksheet 4
Draw a graph of current versus voltage for the following results.
1- The current should be on the ________________ axis and the voltage on the
____________________ axis.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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Graphs in maths, science and PDHPE
Worksheet 5
This graph shows the pulse rate of Dina after running in the Junior Quad, measured after
each minute.
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Column graph and horizontal column graph
Horizontal column graphs have a series of horizontal blocks, while column graphs have a
series of vertical blocks. Basically a horizontal column graph is a column graph turned on its
side.
Column graphs and horizontal column graphs can be distinguished from histograms because
the blocks always have gaps between them, while histograms have no gaps. Histograms
also group numbers into ranges.
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Sample Histogram
Frequency is Age
shown on the
vertical axis
A.Kalra, J.Stamell
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Sample column graph
Title
The scale is
going up by 5.
Sports played
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Graphs in PDHPE, Science
Worksheet 1
Students will take a class survey of blood type and use the data to make a column graph in
the space below:
Task:
After drawing your graph use the following link to draw an online graph for your data.
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx
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Graphs in maths and Art
Worksheet 2
A group of 100 students was surveyed to find the group’s favourite colour.
30
25
20
15
10
0
Blue Pink Purple Yellow Red Green
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Graphs in maths, PDHPE
Worksheet 3
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Graphs in LOTE
The following table and graph show the percentages of languages spoken in Australia.
Percentage
Language spoken
1- List the main languages spoken in Australia from most to least. _______________
_____________________________________________________________________
2- What percentage of people speaks Chinese? ________________________________
3- What is the title of the graph? ____________________________________________
4- What is the scale on the vertical axis? ______________________________________
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Graphs in Geography
The following data had been collected for 'country of birth' from a sample of 50 children.
Fiji 3
India 8
Italy 10
New Zealand 9
United States of 4
America
Total 50
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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Graphs in Geography
Worksheet 4
Source:http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/4613.0chapter40jan+2010
Australia's Environment: Issues and Trends, Jan 2010
2- What does the graph tells us about the states responsible for the largest proportion
of waste generation?___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3- Suggest a reason why NSW I responsible for the largest proportion of waste
generation.___________________________________________________________
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Sector graphs
Sector graphs are also called pie charts or pie graphs. A sector graph is best used for
showing percentages. It shows parts of a whole.
Sector graphs are useful to compare different parts of a whole amount and are often used
to present financial information.
A sector chart is a circular chart. Each quantity is graphed as a sector of the circle. The size
of the sector depends on the fraction it is of the whole (a circle is equal to an angle of 360o).
When a sector graph is created, each sector is constructed as a fraction of the whole.
Be careful not to use too many segments in your sector graph. It will be too crowded if
you use more than six.
Use this link to learn more about sector graphs and to create a graph online.
http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/pie-charts.html
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Sample sector graph
Title
30%
10%
5%
Sector
20%
%
35%
Legend
Percentage
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Graphs in History
Worksheet 1
This sector graph shows how William of Normandy (later known as William the Conqueror)
divided up England after he invaded in 1066.
Source: Retroactive 1
Third Edition 2009
Page 151
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Graphs in English
Worksheet 2
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/graphing/classic/
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Graphs in Geography
Worksheet 3
Examine the sector graph below and answer the following questions:
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Graphs in Music
Worksheet 4
The graph below shows the results of a survey conducted to find out the preferred music of
a class of 25 students.
4- Which three styles together make up more than half of the preferred music?
__________________________________________________________________
Classical
Country
Heavy metal
3% 7%
Rock and Roll
13% Rap
Others
40%
20%
17%
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Graphs and statistics
Worksheet 1
The following data had been collected for 'country of birth' from a sample of 50 children.
Birthplace of Children
Fiji 3
India 8
Italy 10
New Zealand 9
United States of 4
America
Total 50
______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________
Worksheet 2
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Graphs in Ella (2007)
Ten years of Recycling – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a report released by Australian
environment group Planet Ark in 2005.
France
Italy
Sweeden
USA
Germany
Spain
UK
Switzeralnd
Japan
Canada
New Zealand
Country
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Graphs in NAPLAN
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Graphs in ESSA (2005)
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Some Useful links:
http://www.gapminder.org/
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/graphing/classic/
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx
http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/pie-charts.html
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